Operator&#39;s position equipment



Jam 9, 1934 R. B. BUCHANAN OPERATOR'S POSITION EQUIPMENT Filed April 4, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N @Pi Y A TTORA/EVV Jan. 9, 1934. R. B. BUCHANAN OFERATOR'S POSITION EQUIPMENT Filed April 4,. 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N @DK /N VE N TOR R. B. BUCHANAN 6.36. em'df Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED r Tuur ori-:rcs

to Bell Telephone ibaluiratories, incorporated, Neu7 York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 4, 1933.

Claims.

This. invention relates to telephone systems and has4 for its object to facilitate thel work of operators invsuch=systems- With vthe increase in size of telephone exchange areas vand with ther-advance in design or" telephone equpment, trunks terminating in any oiice may originate in a number of diiierent types otocesand theequipment serving such trunks mustgvary accordingly. For. example, a group'of operatorspositions at a'fparticular manual exchange may serve two `types of trunks incoming frommanual oices, tru-nks incoming from offices equipped vwith call `annrunf-:er machines, and trunks incoming from oiiices equipped with relay ycall indicator impulsers. Each position is equipped with a control circuit for associating the operators telephone with the incoming trunk and fortinitiatingthe application of ringing current tothefcalled line. Each type of manual trunk requires a slightly diiierent control circuit, while thefcall announcer trunk requires a control circuit provided wth means for initiating the call announcement andthe call indicator trunk requires a control circuit provided with means for registeringand indicating the number as transmitted:bythe impulser. These additional icatures having been added from time to time, the control circuitV for the second type of manual trunk will serve the rst typeof manual trunk; the ycontrol circuit for call announcer trunks will serve the manual trunks as well, and the control circuit for the call indicatorY trunks will serve all fourtypesV of trunks. When the position is occupied, an operators Ytelephone is associated-with the position control circuit thereby rendering it effective to serve the trunks of that position. During the busy period when each position'is occupied-,no diculty arises because of the various types ofy trunks. However, during dull periods or atY night, it is not necessary that an operator serve each position and grouping circuits are provided so that a plurality of positions may -be included in a division to be served by a single operator. At such a time .if positions serving a plurality of types of trunks are grouped together, it is necessary that an operator connect her telephone with a position which is equipped to serve all of the types of trunks. For example, if the group includes call announcer and manual trunks and the operator associates her telephone withV a position serving manual trunks, the control circuit would not be provided with means for initiating call announcement and such calls could not be completed. If the group also contains call indicator trunks and the operator selects a posi- Serial No. 664,298

tion not equipped with a recorderthere would be n no means for her to receivethe number ofthe wanted line.

In accordance with the present inventionrto insure that the operator associate her headset with a control circuit capable Aof .serving `all of the. trunks in a group, a tone is provided for each class of trunk and when. no telephone is connectedwith a group of trunks, this tone is extended to each control circuit ofy the group. When an operator connectsher telephonewith a control circuit this tone is disconnectedfrom all the control circuits of thesame .type and those serving less complex types of trunk, while it is ineffective to disconnect the tone atv the ,control circuits serving more types of .trunks,;if any such are included in the group., Therefore the tone will persistandthe operator mustassociate her telephone with the controlcircuit serving the maximum number of types of trunks in the group in order to become eiiective.

For aclearer understanding of the4 invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figs. l and2, when` placed with Fig. 2 at the right of TigA 1, showportionsof the grouping circuits oi a plurality of. operators positions including positions serving eachofthe trunk types above mentioned. Fig. 1 shows one position for serving straightforward trunks of the type shown in the patent to H..W. Ulrich, No. 1,905,662, granted April 25, 1933. It also shows two positions for serving other straightforward trunks and one position -for serving call` announcer trunks, while Fig. 2 shows a secondposition for serving call announcer trunks and two positions for serving call` indicator trunks. Trunk circuits of these types together with a. complete grouping and control circuit are shown in the application of A. C. Powell,.Serial.No. 657,027, led February 16, 1933. The'position control circuit shown in the Powell .application is equipped for serving all four types of trunks and therefore corresponds to that located at. the call indicator positions. Call announcer` positions dier from call indicator positions in that'the control circuits are not supplied with recorders. ositions serving only straightforward trunks are not equipped with the identifying and other special equipment required by the call announcer and call indicator trunks. In the present drawings at each position indicated, only the tone equipment, the splitting keys and a single ,relay of the group controlled by each key are shown. A small portion of the position control equipment is shown in connection with the last call indicator position.

Assuming that none of the splitting keys is operated, so that the seven positions form one operators division, the circuits established over the back contacts of the splitting relays may be treated as continuous conductors for the purpose of this description. That over the outer upper contacts will be identified as conductor A, that over the inner upper contacts as conductor B, that over the inner lower contacts as conductor C and that over the outer lower contacts as conductor D. When none of the positions is occupied, a circuit will be closed from ground through the right winding of tone coil 120, condenser 121, back contact of relay 122 to conductor B and thence over conductor 243 to the inner armature of relay 252 of the position control circuit of the last call indicator position. From conductor B,

`conductors 103, 123, 143, 163, 203 and 223 lead to similar relay armatures of the other positions. At the same time, tone is also connected to conductor B at the first call announcer position from ground through tone coil 160, condenser 161 and the back contact of relay 162. At the first call indicator position a circuit is also closed from ground through tone coil 220, condenser 221, back contact of relay 222 to conductor B. The same source of tone may be used throughout. Therefore, tone is connected to conductor B at the first position of each type and thence to all Athe positions forming the operators division.

If the operator now attaches her headset 250 to the last call indicator position, a circuit is lay 252.

ist

lto

closed from ground through the upper left winding of repeating coil 251, over the tips of the headset jack and plug connection, through the transmitter to battery through the winding of re- Relay 252 represents a plurality of relays operated in response to the connection of the headset 250 with the position equipment. Relay 252 connects the right windings of the reheating coil 251 to the control circuit. It also connects the lower left winding of coil 251 to conductor 243 to make the tone audible in the receiver of headset 25o and closes other circuits indicated at its middle contact to render the control circuit effective. In addition it connects ground over its next to innermost contact to conductor 244, thereby operating relay 247. Relay 247 connects ground over its three contacts to conductors A, C and D. The connection of ground to conductor A completes a circuit for relay 162 which opens the tone circuit at the first call announcer position. The connection of ground to conductor C completes a circuit for relay 122 which opens the tone circuit at the first straightforward position. The connection of ground to conductor D completes a circuit for relay 222 disconnecting tone at the call indicator position. Therefore the connection of the operators telephone to'a call indicator position completely removes the warning tone and permits calls to be handled from that position.

Although the opera-tors repeating coil and headset have been shown only in connection with the last call indicator positions, exactly similar equipment is to be inferred at the remaining positions with the exception oi the old type straightforward position. At each position The conductor on the right extends over the contactY of a relay similar to relay 252 to ground, and Jthe conductor on the left over another contact of that relay to the test winding of the opei'ators repeating coil. In the old type straightfoiward position the conductor leading to the repeating coil is furnished but not that leading to ground. if the operator had attached her telephone to the old type straightforward position the presence of the tone in her repeating coil would warn her that the control circuit at that position is incapable of handling certain types of calls which may be received and the tone itself would render the headset ineffective for hearing the signals and instructions necessary in completing calls. If the operator attaches her telephone to the next straightforward position ground is connected to conductor 124 closing an obvious circuit for relay 127 which grounds conductor C and operates relay 122, disconnecting the tone at that position. Similarly, the attachment of a telephone at the right straightforward position, grounds conductor 144, operating relay 147. Relay 147 connects ground over its inner contact to conductor C and over that conductor to the winding of relay 122, which disconnects tone from the straightforward positions. However, neither relay 127 nor relay 147 has any effect on the call announcer or call indicator positions and tone from these positions continues to warn that calls must not be handled from a straightforward position.

If the operator attempts to occupy the call announcer position of Fig. 1, ground on conductor 164 operates relay 167, which in turn grounds conductor A and operates relay 162 removing the tone at that point. Relay 167 also connects ground to conductor C and the winding of relay 122, so that the ione is also disconnected at the straightforward position. The connection of an operators telephone to the second call announcer position, that shown in Fig. 2, grounding conduce tor 204, serves to operate relay 207 which connects ground over its middle contact to conductor A and the winding of relay 162 and over its inner contact to conductor C and the winding of relay 122. Relay 162 disconnects tone at the call announcer position and relay 122 disconnects tone at the straightforward position, but tone is still present at the call indicator position indicating that the division cannot be served from a call announcer position.

When an operator attaches her telephone to the y rst call indicator position, ground is connected to conductor 224 operatingrelay 227. Relay 227 at its uppermost contact grounds conductor D and closes an obvious circuit for relay 222 open'- ing the tone circuit at the call indicator position. At its middle contact relay 227 closes a circuit from ground to conductor A for operating relay 162 thereby disconnecting the tone at the call announcer position. At its innermost contact relay 227 connects ground to conductor C and the winding of relay 122, disconnecting the tone at the straightforward position. It is therefore ap-Y parent that to completely remove the warning tone it is necessary to connect with a position capable of serving all of the types of trunks included in the division, in case a call indicator position.

The arrangement of the positions shown in the drawings is merely illustrative and may loe varied in any way desirable from an operating standpoint. As far as the tone arrangement of the invention is'concerned, the various types of Cla disconnect relay is furnished, this relayis connected to conductor C. For call announcer positions the tone-disconnect relayv is attached to conductor A, andr for call indicator positions the tone disconnect relay is connected to conductor D. The relay at straightforward positions which 'indicates that the position is occupied, connects ground to conductor C and thereover tothe Windings of all tone disconnect relays of straightforward positions. The position-occupied relay of call announcer positions connects ground to conductors C and Athereby operating the tone-disconnect relays of both straightforward andv call announcer positions. The position-occupied relay of call indicator positions connects groundfto conductors A, C and D operating all tone-disconnect relays of the divisioni The operation of any splitting key, operating the corresponding group of relays, opens the four conductors, thereby interrupting the tone circuits as well as the circuits for disconnecting the tone.l For example, if'key 188 were operated, in turn operating relay 165, the straightforward positions would he separated from the call announcer positions and no tone from the callannouncer or call indicator positions would reach the straightforward positions. Association of the operators telephone with either straightforward position would cause the removal of the tone, although association with the old type straightforward position would not be effective. If key208 Were operated, dividingthe call announcer -positions from each other, tone from coil- 160vwould be connected to the straightforward positions and the operator would have to occupythe call announcer position in order to handle calls in the division. The effect of the operation of other splitting keys and relays willv be obvious'from consideration of the drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telephone system, a plurality'of operators positions for serving trunks of a plurality of types incomingthereto, a control circuit for each position, certain of said control circuits serving only a single type of trunks, other control circuits serving a particular plurality of types of trunks and other control circuits serving all types of trunks, means for grouping said positions into divisions, and means to renderV ineffective those control circuits which do not serve all of the types of trunks included in the division.

2. In a telephone system, a plurality of operators positions for serving trunks of aplurality of types incoming thereto, a control circuit for each position, certain of said control circuits serving only a single type of trunk, other control circuits serving a particular vplurality of Vtypes of trunks and other control circuits serving all types of trunks, means for grouping said positions into divisions, an operators headset, means normally responsive to the association of said operators headset with a control circuit for rendering said control circuit and said headset effective, and means to render said headset ineffective if it is associated with a control circuit which does not serve all of the types of trunks included in the division.

3. In a telephone system, a plurality of operators positions for serving trunks of a plurality of types incoming thereto, a control circuit for each position, certain of said control circuits serving only a single Vtype of trunk, other control circuits serving a particular plurality of types of trunks and other control circuits serving all types of trunks, means for grouping said positions into divisions, an operators headset, means responsive to the association of said headset with a control circuit for rendering said control circuit effective, a source of tone for each sort of control circuit, means for associating said source of tone with all of the control circuits included in a division, and means responsive-to the association of said headset with a control circuit for disconnecting said tone source from those control circuits of the division capable of serving the same number of types of trunks and those control circuits of the division capable of serving a smaller number of types of trunks,

4. In a telephone system, a plurality of operators'positionsfor serving trunks of a plu-` rality oftypes incoming thereto, a control circuitior eachposition, certain of said control circuits serving only a single type of trunk, other control circuits serving a particular plurality of types of trunks and other control circuits serving all types of trunks, means for grouping said positions into divisions, an operators headset, means responsive to the association of 'said headset With a control circuit for rendering said control circuit effective, a source of tone for each sort of control circuit, means for associating said source of tone with all of thecontrol circuits included in a division, and

vmeans responsive to the association of said headset with a control circuit for disconnecting vsaid tone source-from those control circuits of the group-capable of handling the same number or a smaller number of types of trunks, said last mentioned means being ineffective to disconnect said tone source from any control circuitsin the division which are capable of handling' a larger number of types of trunks.

5. In a telephone system, a plurality of operators positions for serving trunks of a plurality of types incoming thereto, a control circuit for each position, certain of said control circuits serving only a single type of trunk, other control circuits serving a particular plurality of types of trunks and other control circuits serving all types of trunks, means for grouping said positions into divisions, an operators headset, means responsive to the association of said headset With a control circuit for rendering said control circuit eiiective, a source of tone for each sort of control circuit, means for associating said source of tone With all of the control circuits included in a division, and means for effectively disconnecting said tone source only responsive to the association of said headset with a oontrol circuit which is one capable of serving all types of trunks included in said division.

6. In a telephone system, a pluralityof operators positions for serving trunks of a plurality of types incoming thereto, a control circuit for each position, certain of said control circuits serving only a single type of trunk, other controlv circuits serving a particular plurality of types of trunks and other control circuits servingall types of trunks, means for grouping said positions into divisions, an operators headset, means responsive to the association of said headset With a control circuit for rendering said control circuit efiective, a source of tone for each sort of control circuit, means for associating said source of tone with all of the control circuits included in a division, means responsive to the association of said headset with a control circuit for disconnecting said tone source from those control circuits of the division capable of handling the same number or a smaller number of types of trunks, and means for effectively disconnecting said tone source only responsive to the association of said headset with a control circuit which is one capable of serving all types of trunks included in said division.

'7. In a telephone system, a plurality of operators positions for serving trunks of a plurality of types incoming thereto, 'a control circuit for each position, certain of said control circuits serving only a single type of trunk, other control circuits serving a particular plurality of types of trunks and other control circuits serving all types of trunks, means for grouping said positions into divisions, an operators headset, means responsive to the association of said headset with a control circuit for rendering said control circuit effective, a source of tone for each sort of control circuit, means for associating said source of tone with all of the control circuits included in a division, means responsive to the association of said headset with a control circuit for disconnecting said tone source from those control circuits of the division capable of handling the same number or a smaller number of types of trunks, said last mentioned means being ineffective to disconnect said tone source from any control circuits in the division which are capable of handling a larger number of types of trunks, whereby said tone is effectively disconnected only responsive to the association of said headset with a control circuit Which is one capable of serving all types of trunks included in the division.

8. In a telephone system, a plurality of operators positions for serving trunks of a plurality of types incoming thereto, a control circuit for each position, certain of said control circuits serving only a single type of trunkfother control circuits serving a particular plurality of types of trunks and other control circuits serving all types of trunks, means for grouping said positions into divisions, a repeating coil associated with each control circuit, means for applying a tone to one Winding of said repeating coil, means including another winding of said repeating coil for associating said operators telephone With said control circuit, means responsive to the connection of said operators telephone vvitfh said repeating coil for rendering the control circuit eiective and means also responsive to said connection for disconnecting said tone from the other Winding of said repeating coil only if said control circuit is one capable of handling all types of trunks in the division.

9. In a telephone system, a plurality of operators positions for serving trunks of one type incoming from manual oilices, trunks of another type incoming from manual offices, trunks incoming from dial olices equipped with call announcer machines, and trunks incoming from dialoices equipped with relay call indicator impulsers, controlcircuits for each type of trunk, said control circuits for one type of manual trunks being able to serve only that type of trunks, said control circuits for the other type of manual trunks being capable of serving all trunks incoming from manual ofces, said control circuits for call announcer trunks being capable of serving trunks incoming from manual ofces as Well and said control circuits for relay call indicator trunks being capable of serving all of the types of trunks, means for grouping said positions into divisions, and means for rendering any control circuit ineffective which is not one capable of serving all trunks included'in a division.

10. In a telephone system, a plurality of operators positions for serving trunks of one type incoming from manual oices, trunks of another type incoming from manual oiiices, trunks incoming from oiiices equipped With call announcer machines, and trunks incoming from offices equipped with relay call indicator impulsers, a plurality of different types of control circuits, one type serving trunks of the first type only, another serving all trunks incoming from manual oices, athird type serving manual trunks and call announcer trunks and a fourth type serving all of said types of trunks, means for connecting said positions into divisions, a source of tone, means for connecting said tone source to all of the control circuits included in said division,l an operators headset, means for associating said headset with any control circuit, means responsive to the association of said headset with a control circuit of said second type to disconnect said tone from all control circuits of both first and second types, means responsive to the association of said headset with a control circuit of the third type to disconnect said tone from control circuits of said iirst, second and third types, and means responsive to the association of said headset with a control circuit or" the fourth type for disconnecting said tone from the control circuits of all types.

l1. In a telephone system, a plurality of operators positions for serving trunks of one type incoming from manual oices, trunks of another type incoming from manual ofces, trunks incoming from oces equipped with call announcer machines, and trunks incoming from oflices equipped With relay call indicator impulsers, a plurality of different types of control circuits, one type serving trunks of the lrst type only, another serving all trunks incoming from manual oices, a third type serving manual trunks and call announcer trunks and a fourth type serving all of said types of trunks, means for connecting said positions into divisions, a source of tone, means for connecting said tone source to all of the control circuits serving a division, an operators headset, means for associating said headset with any control circuit, means responsive to the association of said headset With a control circuit of said second type to disconnect said tone from all control circuits of both first and second types, means responsive to the association of said headset with a control circuit of the third type to disconnect said tone from control circuits of said rst, second and third types, means responsive to the association of said headset with a control circuit of the fourth type for disconnecting said tone from the control circuits of all types whereby connection of said headset with a control circuit is effective to completely remove said tone only if said control circuit is of a type capable of serving all trunks in a group.

12. In a telephone system, a plurality of operators positions for serving trunks of a plurality x of types incoming thereto, a control circuit for each position, certain of said control circuits serving only a single type of trunk, other control circuits serving a particular plurality of types of trunks and other control circuits serving all types of trunks, means for grouping said cuit of a particular type for removing said tone from all control circuits of that type.

13. In a telephone system, operators positions for serving trunks of a plurality of types, control circuits of a plurality of progressively more complex types, each more complex type serving one more type of trunks than the next less complex type, means for grouping said control circuits, means for connecting a tone to all of the control circuits in said group, an operators telephone, and means responsive to the association of said operators telephone With a control circuit for disconnecting said tone from all of the control circuits of the same and less complex types.

14. In a telephone system, operators positions for serving trunks of a plurality of types, control circuits of a plurality of progressively more complex types, each more complex type serving one more type of trunks than the next less complex type, means for grouping said control circuits, means for connecting a tone to all of the control circuits in said group, an operator-s telephone,

and means responsive to the association of said operators telephone With a control circuit for disconnecting said tone from all of the control cir,- cuits of the same and less complex types, said connecting and said disconnecting means being effective only Within said group.

15. In a telephone system, operators positions for serving trunks of a plurality of types, con.- trol circuits of a plurality of progressively more complex types, each more complex type serving one more type of trunks than the next less complex type, means for grouping said control circuits, means for connecting a tone to all of the control circuits in said group, an operators telephone, and means responsive to the association of said operators telephone With a control circuit for disconnecting said tone from all of the control circuits of the same and less complex types, said connecting and said disconnecting means being effective irrespective of the size of said group.

RUSSELL B. BUCHANAN. 

